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JEAN CLARKE, 

Author of "That Young Man." 







BOSTON : 

PUBLISHED BY N. H. WHITNEY & CO. 
1878. 






Entered accordmg to Act of Congress, in the year A.D. 1877, 

By N. H. WHITNEY & CO. 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C. 



AUTHOR'S NOTE. 



N 



In measured line to suit my whim, without 

The hope or wish that they who read will call 

It poetry, this little book I give. 

This said is quite enough — and less would do — 

Of introductory, so called and named, 

But never read except by her or him 

Who writes. Thus saying, let me sign my name 

In due respect, esteem, and love, and hope, 

Most truly yours, 

Boss Devil. 

Boston, New Year's, 1878. 



THE 

BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 



I. PRELUDE. 



T~?AIR maid ! whom some call sweet, and sweet 
■^ if good ; 

With virgin blushes pure and rich and red 
And warm ; unplighted love, yet true because 
Untried ; unfaded eye, yet bright and soft 
And good, its own most certain snare and bait 
Of ruin ; smiling face and yearning heart ; 
Prospective wife, loved and loving much, — 
Fair maid, to thee I speak and write. 

Young man ! possessed of strength, with greatest 

strength 
To fall ; with hopes elated high above 



6 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Intent of good, or virtue of resolve ; 

With signs of greatness, (Outward many bright, 

But inward few ; with force of mind and soul, 

And build of frame, each great in what each most 

May yet attain ; beset with pleasures good 

And ill, — to thee no less this theme I pen, 

That, by revealing who I am, thyself 

To thee I may present as well, and more, 

That thou mayst know the man whose easy prey. 

At cruel cost, thou art. 

But, to be brief, fair maid, young man, or both ; 
The young, the old as well, and all who read 
On trains, in halls, at home, or as a guest ; 
Equal to all, with much to favor all, 
On printed page I come, in measured lines, 
Not welcomed more because in common verse, 
Nor less, but rather more disguised. 

Of all the devils seen or hid or felt 

On earth, by men or maids, — their numbers 

great, — 
The Boss I am. To my imperious rule 
And sway, to every impulse, word, or wish. 
All legions doomed or dooming by their pow'r, 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

In ready homage wait on me. 

In every act of life's broad stage, 

The high and low, the rich and poor, the great, 

The small, of every sort, come trooping round 

My feet, to crown me Victor, Devil Boss ; 

Thyself a subject, willing or compelled. 

Of my exalted crown. Such is my rank. 

My birth I'll speak of later on ; my age 
As well, or mention not at all, as may 
Best suit my wish and plan. My realm. 
Already told or hinted quite enough, 
Will soon be clear. Thus briefly introduced, 
Boss Devil I appear ! and, leading on. 
Will wind through wooded paths of real fact, 
Of virtue shipwrecked, honor lost or won. 
Of maiden's hopes deferred and trust deceived, 
Of man's high purpose blighted or retrieved, 
Of home's cemented circle sundered far, 
Or saved. 

II. — FAIR ELSA. 

No longer girl, yet scarce a maid in years ; 

In growth of heart, and mind, and form, full ripe 

And pure, fair Elsa loved. Her beauty, rare 



8 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

And rich, invited gaze and lust. Her face 
With freshest blush, in tinted hues of pink 
And white, was always bright. 

Her smiles of love, 
In golden sunbeams flowed, in gentle waves 
Of inspiration warm. Her auburn hair 
Of curls, in silken tresses, hung or lay 
In ample luxury. 

Her form, not large. 
Nor small, but rounded out in perfect shape 
And symmetry, excelled perfection's truest moulds 
Of fancied thought. 

Her voice, in accents sweet, 
Broke softest music on the ear and heart, 
Enchanting one and charming both. To tell 
It all at once, in her combined the whole 
Of beauty, youth, and grace. 

Her rank of noble birth improved on all 
By gilding all with wealth and lineage-fame ; 
Her noble gifts of mind, and soul, and grace. 
The wisest Giver had bestowed in trust, — 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 9 

A trust she would have kept, had I not come 

To tempt, and steal, and curse, and blight, and 

blast, 
And waste. 

Her easy lot sped on and on, 
Each day beholding steps advancing high 
In deeds of self-improving culture and 
Unselfish love. 

Thus born, thus reared, thus blessed, 
And thus improved, — an object rare and rich 
For angels' praise and devils' bitter hate, — 
Fair Elsa lived. 

Her ruin fully planned 
Was my delight, since she was fairest of 
The fair, and purest of the pure ; and I 
The chief of devils boss, the ardent task 
No other hands save mine could execute. 



III. — YOUNG ROGER. 

Young Roger, bright with college honors, came 
From class, in graduation due, to try 
With tact and talent, love and wit, life's hard 
And surging tide. 



lO THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

From callings great and wise, 
And multiform, he chose his own delight. 
The art of physic, — allopathic school. 

Commanding, tall, erect, of noble form 
And noble mien, and mind and soul in all 
Complete, he stood in youth's gateway of life, 
In equipage and armor for the fight 
Complete as well. 

With aims above, beyond. 
The common herd, he drew the lines to rule. 
His life by wisdom's plans approved, confirmed. 
The rules he made to be observed, obeyed. 
Were few, but firm and good : The truth to speak, 
To seek the good to do and fellowship. 
To hate the wrong, were fundamental lines 
He would in turn observe. 

And why do less ? 
Of humble, poor but honest birth, his own 
Unaided way he'd pressed to this fair start. 
With such a life, though short, behind, with such 
A prospect yet untried, but easy to 
Attain, ahead, when all invites that way. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. ii 

IV. — YOUNG Roger's love. 

When scarce eighteen, while yet in junior class, 
Young Roger, still in sophomoric warmth 
Of youth, his honest heart and noble hand 
Had laid at Elsa's feet, for which she gave 
Her own betrothed. Of all rewards his life 
Had crowned, this one was richest far. 

To win a love so pure, a heart so high. 
Was more than victor's boast. Her veins enriched 
By royal blood, her heart of love enlarged, 
Enshrined by all devotion's brightest fires ; 
Her mind illumined, trained, informed ; 
Her beauty unsurpassed, and yet excelled 
By grace, — a prize indeed ! of earthly gifts 
The best. 

But greater than her worth 
Of beauty, grace, and form, and higher than 
Her hopes of heaven, and deeper than her trust 
In God, — outmeasured all, her love bestowed, — 
Young Roger's best reward, and highest prize. 

Nor was fair Elsa*s love without a full 



12 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Return. The heart of him, less great in name, 
Less reared by wealth, but nothing less a heart 
For all, it loved as strong, as warm, as great, 
If not as pure ; and loving thus he loved 
Not less than she. 



V. — YOUNG ROGERS FAULT. 

Young Roger's fault was my reward, and more — 
But say no more just now. The heart that loved 
Its treasure, altogether won, yet half 
Secured, with such unselfish wish and plan. 
Lacked less in generous deeds than just, though 

just 
It strove its blessings to impart. 

It was 
Not wrong that Roger should have many friends, — 
A right availing much for me, — nor wrong 
That he and they should often meet and chat 
At hall or club, if meeting there implied 
No other fellowship than kindly words 
Or greeting warm ; nor in the thoughts and words 
Of many men called wise and good, was wrong, — 
Their social glass of wine, or stronger drinks, 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 13 

When kind occasion warmly bent that way. 

In such amusements, wise and good, if good 

And wise, and right if numbers weigh, and best 

For my success, lay Roger's fault, the old 

And pious people will insist. If right. 

Then right ; if wise, then wise ; if good, then good ; 

Or fault, then fault : whichever will appear. 



VI. FAIR ELSA*S FAULT, IF FAULT. 

Fair Elsa, faultless, yet in fault, if wise 
And trusted oracles are true, erred most, 
If erred at all, in loving far too well. 
If truest God she loved, her love in this 
Was weak, engaging less than half a heart and half 
A mind. Her rank, the riches of her grace. 
Her undivided love, her hopes and best 
Resolves, her time, her prayers, her strength, and all 
She had to give, in giving which was right, — 
And law of right was love, — she fondly threw 
At Roger's not unworthy feet. Alas ! 
And not alas ! Sometimes such love is best. 
Sometimes the worst. Alas, when spent on him 
Whom I embrace, though worthy in himself ; 
And not alas, when borne for him in whom 



14 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

My intrigue comes to nought, a victim chained. 
In this, — if this be wrong or right, the same, — 
In this was Elsa's source of grief, if grief 
She had at all. 



VII. — YOUNG ROGERS MISFORTUNE. 

Misfortune, — born of fault if sages tell 
The proverbs of their songs in truth ; and born 
By chance, or sent by God, if sages lie, — 
But, all the same, misfortunes come to vex 
And to annoy. A plan put forth to shun 
Their stings fails in the plan ; for all, the small, 
The great, at some time, and by far, the time 
Most inconvenient to their ease and wish, 
Must fret beneath their scourge. 

Young Roger, no 
Exception to the rule, met his. 'Twas not 
Affliction's hand ; 'twas not unvalued love. 
Nor broken trust, nor lash of scandal's tongue : 
But debt, its food. His generous heart made 

friends ; 
His generous deeds increased their ranks ; and, 

thus 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 15 

Increased, expense entailed, unjustly met, 
Or met by putting off. 

His practice grew 
And thrived ; but faster grew the wants (not 

needs), 
And louder grew the calls demanding means 
To hold the wide-extending social list 
Of daily entertaining friends. Perplexed, 
Annoyed, young Roger, ill at rest. 
Stood hard in need. His wants however known 
To me, it matters not : enough to say 
His needs my pleasant duty was to meet 
And satisfy, or, failing quite in this, ^ 

His wants to pacify. Philanthropy 
Could move my heart. Boss Devil though I was, 
But only when its Christian deeds of love 
Gave cloak to base designs. 

In Roger's want 
I saw a way to Elsa's heart. The route 
Was long and wind-about, and intricate 
With turns : yet, had the way been easier, 
Less int'resting the task. 



1 6 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

The end 
Was Elsa's fall, — her virtue to abase. 
This fully done, and I had reached the goal 
Of devil's highest wish. No dart of lust 
Or thought of shame had yet imbued her heart : 
In holy thoughts, in purest wish, her life 
In gentle flow, swept calmly on to God. 

All other men, most other maids, my base 
Designs could bring to shame, with greater ease, 
But with less glory crowned. With some, and not 
A few, the distance left to fall would cause 
But little bruise : with her, embracing all 
That's pure and true and good, the distance would 
Be great, the fall in ruin grand. These thoughts 
And motives led me on. With these I sped 
To Roger's aid. 



IX. — YOUNG ROGERS SIN. 

Misfortune — born of fault, or no, to me 

It matters not — was brooding sin through my 

Adventurous aid. Young Roger lived, — and lived 

In style, — from Elsa's proud and stately home. 

In distance many miles, say hundreds six 

Or more. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 17 

Though Elsa's capture, fall, and shame 
Was chief of my delights to win, I chose, 
As most expedient to my plan and aim, 
To tarry close by him, in friendly aid. 
If thus I could appear. And thus I did 
Pretend in foul disguise, deceit, until 
In Roger's name, for Roger's sake, she heard 
My fearful plea, and blushed with shame. 
But blushing fell, yet falling more to my 
Disgrace than her distress, and this was great. 

Supplying Roger's wants, 
I multiplied by many fold and pow'r 
Their number and their force ; and this, that I 
Might make demand for much I had and wished 
To give. I made him many friends, if friends 
The world will stoop to so exalt by name. 
Nay, this and more ; I brought him pleasures new 
And odd, — too odd to tell ; enjoyments sweet, 
If sweet can turn to painful sting of shame ; 
Amusements rare to public gaze, or sight 
Of honest, pious men ; and over all 
The mystic veil of secrecy I spread, 
Which gave it double charm. 



l8 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

In this strange world behind the "screens, — strange 

only to 
The good, — where night is day, and day is 

night. 
And charms are multiplied, increased, improved. 
By artificial light, I led at will 
Young Roger's wayward feet. He followed on 
With hesitating, step, unsteady gait ; 
And, when reluctant to proceed, his fears 
Or doubts of wrong were lost in social wine. 

Thus on, and on, I led young Roger to 
His sin, his doom, unconscious he was led. 
The way was long, and leading down in scale 
At every step, but with such easy slant 
As not to cause alarm. 

Had Roger fell 
With rapid pace, no wrecks to mark his path 
But his, slight then were done ; but, moving on 
In slow advance, the stream of ruin spread 
In wide expanse, including hundreds in 
The train, and thus worked double loss. In this 
I managed well 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 19 

Impulsive, yet 
With firm command of self, as some would say. 
He sinned by night, and worked with honest skill 
By day ; and boasted how his freaks of fun. 
Restrained by systematic rule or law, 
Took nothing from the value or result 
Of practised toil. And so, dear reader, if 
Boss devil you'd become, first learn to lead 
Your victims by the hand of self-control. 
When falsely reckoned so. With care and pains 
I worked to show young Roger all his good. 
And cover all his fault. 'Twas easy done : 
With skilful ease I placed his life in line 
With that of better men, and proved his own 
By far the best, by far supreme. 

At length 
He sinned outright, and sinned to suffer much. 
His sin entailed disgrace ; to cover which 
Bred crime ; to cover which he spent his life 
For nought, and fell at last, a proper claim 
To retribution's doom, to pine and die. 

His sin was this (in myth it must be told, . 

Or give offence to those who read ; which means. 



20 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

To steal the author's bread) : Within his heart 
I bred a passion great and deep and strong, 
The birthright of the flesh, and proper, too, 
For man : its presence is not sin, but wise 
And good, if wisely held by wise restraint. 

Young Roger wooed forbidden fruit, and ate 
In passion, not in love. In this he wronged 
Fair Elsa's trust, — the less or more, decide 
Which way you will ; but wronged it foul, — and 

wronged 
Himself as well, and more. Sharp on the track 
Of this his sin — another's shame — came twin 
Disgrace, to cover which demanded crime. 
Alas ! and crime stood near at hand. 



X. YOUNG ROGER S CRIME. 

That sin is crime but older grown, is plain 
To most who read, and pain to most who sin 
Too long, I may assert in peace, and you 
May prove by deeds, in grief. Thus Roger did 
At my command, request, or wish. But in 
His peril I came, a friend, or foe disguised. 
And lent, unbid, black counsel, varnished bright. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 21 

He listened well ; which was for me to win, 
And him to lose. " For Elsa's sake," I said, 
" For Elsa's love, for Elsa's future hope 
And joy, cut this one brittle thread of life, — 
Though in the stroke you sever two, — and thus 
Dam back the floods which threaten deluge to 
Thy name and hers. In this affair, use one 
Of many tricks to thy profession known. 
And let her quickly die, with hers and yours, — 
A secret better in the grave than out. 
In this be wise, and follow my advice. 
Make haste ! the clouds of shame appear." 

^'Notl!" 
Young R^ger said. '* Be sin my shame, not 

crime 
My woe ! This deed to impulse strange I owe, 
Or rather to thy wrong advice. Had I 
Not met thee, boss of devils, true thou art. 
And heeded thy persuasive counsels, wrong 
And black, but gilded o'er, this shame would not 
Be mine, or hers by deed of mine ; nor had 
Fair Elsa's love been treated thus. Depart, 
Boss Devil ! leave ! nor speak again to me ! 
We part to-day for life." 



22 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

" Young Roger, hold ! '* 
Was my reply. " Your sorrows reel your brain. 
Think for a moment of your words, I pray. 
Ere you are lost * Be sin my shame, not crime 
My woe,' sounds well ; but hark ! Thy sin and 

hers 
Is growing crime, and soon will ripen red 
In harvest of disgrace. Thy sin to-day 
To-morrow is thy crime. Between one crime 
And two, without disgrace, is difference more 
To be preferred, if both are lost in death, 
Though death be murder, than to suffer foul 
Disgrace, and sweat beneath the penalty 
Of law. Do I not counsel wisely, man t 
If so, give heed : if no, ignore. But weigh 
My wisdom well." 

A pause prolonged ; and Roger asked, — 
" And how can this be done to leave no chance 
Or clew by which the deed may come to light 1 " 

" Pshaw ! Roger, stop ! 
Ask not of me to teach what best is known 
To thee. I counsel what to do, not how. 
A thousand ways I might contrive, and more ; 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 23 

But why should I perform things easy to 
Yourself ? The task is light. But come, I'll aid ; 
And, while we plan, let's drink, that plan we may 
With greater ease." 

What speed ! 
In scarce two years I'd led young Roger on 
From noble, pious youth, to social glass ; 
Frl m social glass, to deeds of sin and shame ; 
From sin and shame, to plotting murder with 
No other object than a view to shun disgrace. 
Such progress cheered my heart. 

He drank of wine, at my request, that we 
Might reason well ; yet held aloof from crime 
In doubt and fear, and said, — 

*' I'd rather die, — • 
Die thrice, — than load myself with guilt by this 
Tremendous deed. Contrive some other way ; 
Suggest some plan less black." 

" I see no other way, 
The time draws near when Elsa's hand in yours 
Will join in wedlock's holy bond, — a bond 



24 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

In which alone rehef to thee can come. 
Her wealth at thy command, these irksome debts 
Will disappear. Then, Roger, thou canst raise 
Thy head, in manly claim to more respect. 
Without her love, without her hand, without 
Fair Elsa's gold, thy doom is now complete. 
There is no other way. This dreaded deed 
Alone can bring relief." 



XI. — FAIR ELS AS CONSTANT LOVE. 

Come, reader, turn 
With me to Elsa's home, that we may bring 
Her life down through two years elapsed since last 
We spake her praise. 

When Roger left his class 
For active life, he pressed her hand to wed ; 
But she demurred, and pleaded youth a cause 
Why both should wait. In this her patience was 
Not wise, though nothing else a proof of wise 
Resolve. Had she gone forth with Roger from 
The start, I had been robbed of both, alas ! 
Her virtue made the gap through which a stream 
Of ruin flowed, to turn the wheels of death. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 25 

Two years and more must come and go ere she 
Became a wife : meanwhile young Roger's hand 
Would lay foundations for a home, where love, 
And joy, and peace might reign to crown and bless 
Their coming wedded life. 

About his task 
He set in haste, with motives high and great. 
To his resolves I lent niy aid, and with 
What issues you have seen, and shall see more. 

But through these waiting years young Roger oft 
Should lean on Elsa's love. In ways all good — 
A thousand quite or more — shje came to him, 
Revealed in acts of constancy. Her pen. 
Devoted as the days and nights are true to time. 
Did much. Each letter filled with Christian words 
Of counsel wise, but less of counsel than 
Of love, brought inspirations big with strength 
And hope, but these were shipwrecked, cast 
Away on seas of ruddy wine, without 
The roaring of a single storm. 

But letters were 
By no means all : mottoes and precious gifts 



26 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Of needle-work, each traced with lines of skill 
And patient toil ; each, token of her love, — 
These gifts from hands so fair, these lines from 

mind 
So pure, and hopeful wishes, well from heart 
So true and good, had been enough, and more, 
To guide young Roger on in purity 
Of life, had I not crossed his path, or clasped 
His hand. 

Besides these gifts and written interchange 
Of love, five greetings, lasting weeks, increased 
Their love, confirmed their hopes, and perfected 
Their trust. At each of these young Roger's 

heart 
Renewed its vows ; his lips alone declared 
The lie of constant past. Fair Elsa — blind 
With perfect trust ; imperfect since unwise ; 
Unwise because abused, deceived — believed, 
Suspected not, and loved in majesty 
Of soul sublime and great. 

Thus lived 
Fair Elsa, true and good and pure, not once 
Suspecting less of him than she herself 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 27 

Could be, but hoping more. Thus waiting long, 
And praying much, poor Elsa was deceived. 
Alas ! if only that were all ! 



XII. YOUNG ROGER S VICTIM. 

Poor Nellie Waite, an orphan child, at ten, 
Was placed at school, through friendly aid. En- 
dowed 
With voice of song, and blessed with music in 
Her soul, she learned to play and sing with grace 
And ease, and perfect tone. To teach what she 
Had learned was her delight, and more, her means 
Of livelihood. Nellie was young and fair, 
Possessed of beauty, wit, and tact to match ; 
Well suited to enjoy the good, but not 
Well suited to endure the bad, of life. 

From self-supporting toil she soon became 

By far too self-depending. Nellie Waite 

And I and Roger met at social dance. 

Or ball full-dress. I'd met young Roger long, 

And many times, before ; sweet Nellie once ; 

Not more. My interest in them both was quite 

The same, — their overthrow and fall. At twelve, 



28 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

The midnight hour, the whirhng dances broke 
In intermission. Lunch was served in rooms 
Across the entry hall. Thence, to refresh 
And rest, young Roger, leading Nellie on 
His arm, repaired. My time had come. The wine 
Was introduced. The modest lady shook 
Head in kind reproof ; yet wine, champagne, 
Was only wine, not more, and why complain } 
Thus reasoned out she said, — 

" Kind Roger, sir. 
You drink, I'm pardoned to observe. 
The wine looks well, and drink if drink you must. 
But, as for me, I must excuse myself 
With your consent." 

"Miss Waite, you joke, or play 
With words. This wine is light, and could not 

harm 
A creature good and fair as thou. Yotir health ! 
Drink that with me ! " 

** Just half a glass : not more, 
Kind Roger. Come, obey ! I dare not trust 
In taking more, or even this, I'm bound 
To say." 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 29 

" Pshaw ! Nellie, drink ! This ruddy wine 
Like water flows, as harmless too. A ball 
Is less a ball excepting wine. I hold 
Myself to answer for your ill, if ill 
Results." 

Young Roger reasoned well. 
In this my training was complete. She drank, 
And, drinking, fell in honor of my name, 
And rank as Boss. 



XIII. MURDER, ONE OR TWO. 

At my advice, at my command, or wish, 

Or counsel, — one or all, — young Roger gave 

Wise heed (if crime is wise) ; and sought at once, 

With speedy hand, to cut the thread of life. 

The work was soon complete. His victim fell 

In death, — as at his wicked will she fell 

In life to deeds of shame, — with one faint cry 

Or wail of grief, unheard by men. Her pain 

Was great but brief. 

" This awful thing is done. 
And done by me," soliloquized or thought 



30 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Young Roger, as alone he sat one night, 

Refusing to be comforted by wine. 

Or wine's resource. " My plan succeeds : that's 

plain. 
Hear what the people think, and what they say. 
And what the papers print. It's false ; but lies 
Are better far than truth, when used to hide 
Much crime. They print, with head-lines black 

and long, 
The tale of Nellie's grief ; all wrong, but right 
For me. It runs this wise : — 

" *The suicide 
Of Nellie Waite ! Though fair in • life, yet 

FOUL 

In death. She dies to hide her crime.* 

"Thus ran 
The head-lines, bold as false ; and others quite 
As these were added on to give display. 
Then followed lines in common print ; to wit, — 

" * We're pained to be compelled to write of things 
So sad. Fair Nellie Waite, whom many knew, 
'And knew to love, in some dread evil hour 
Gave heed to wrong advice. She fell ! To hide 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 31 

Her fall, she drank the fatal drug, and died. 
The man — not man, but beast — who led her on 
To shame is strangely hid from view. She leaves 
No words behind by which to trace him out. 
Yet we predict his villany will be 
Revealed in time, and he to punishment 
Be surely brought in chains.' " 

Young Roger read, 
And trembled more. The prophecy might yet 
Be verified ! He shook with fear. I came 
That way, on duty bent, and offered wine. 
He drank, and drank again. This nerved his 

mind, 
And gave him strength. His fear o'ercome or 

gone, 
His conscience dumb, he walked erect, and smiled 
A victor's smile. 

Poor Nellie's death came not 
By her own hand. Perplexed with grief, and 

warned 
Of coming shame, she counselled Roger for 
Escape, relief, or plan to overcome 
The sad mishap. He gave attentive ear, 



32 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

And then advice, and then a phial of death. 

He called it by some other name. The dose 

He ordered her, in undivided form, 

To take just after secret evening prayer. 

By this she was to gain relief ; but by 

The same she died. Thus managed Roger well ; 

Or rather I, not he. This was my plan, 

Not his. But thus died Nellie Waite ; and thus 

Have thousands, fair and good as she, by me 

Been led to early, shameful death. 



XIV. FAIR ELSA S DREAM, AND MORE. 

The night of Nellie's death, fair Elsa dreamed 
Herself in Nellie's place. She thought her shame 
Was hers, and that some fiend, the author of 
Her woe, had sought to take her life ; in which 
Attempt by poisoned draught his purpose reached. 
The fiend she did not know or recognize. 
In one short night she dreamed the same thrice 

o'er, 
And morning found her weak from fear. 

She wrote 
At once, revealing all to Roger's mind. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 33 

The dream, she said, was plainest at the point . 
Of death. ' Twas hard to die. She tried to call 
For aid, but nothing aiding came. She cried 
In sobs of grief, not loud but deep, for him 
Whose slave, by dream, she had become. But no 
Response from him. At length she died ; instead 
Of which she woke. With this, fair Elsa asked, 
"My love, what can it mean } " and closed. 

Such news 
Brought grief and hot remorse to Roger's soul. 
He sank in stupor, self-condemned, and would 
Have died from self-inflicting wouncjs, had I 
Not sped to bring redress and cheer. 

" My dear 
Sir Roger," first I said, "what means this woe. 
This sad complain .? Why languish here } With 

thee 
There's nothing wrong, but much to cheer." 

"Foul fiend!" 
He answered back, " the worst of devils thou ! 
Depart ! Return no more ! I hate thy name, 
Thy face, thy voice ! I would that thou wert 
dead. 



34 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

No more thy councils shall I heed, no more 
Thy poisoned gifts receive. Depart, depart ! 

cursed fiend, depart ! " 

"Why, Roger, wilt 
Thou thus abuse my name, reject my aid ? 
When fast in trouble bound, with coming shame. 
In floods quite mountain high, I found thee lone 
And helpless, in much want, thou didst not scorn 
To thank for aid. I gave my counsels free, 
And counselled wise. To-night you're free by 

might 
Of mine, and durst thou scorn me thus 1 Beware ! 

1 have thee in my power somewhat. As friend, 
I wait to serve thy needs ; but make me foe. 
And chains of fearful strength shall bind thee 

low." 

"Boss Devil, leave my sight ! This once, not 

more, 
I'll drink with thee at my expense. It is 
The parting draught. I trace thy hand in ills 
Gone by. To thee my every fault and sin 
I owe : to thee I'll owe no more but hate. 
But come, we'll drink farewell, and part." 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 



35 



" 'Tis done, 
Whate'er thou wilt. To be dismissed is hard : 
To be dismissed and then recalled is not 
So bad. To-day I'll go, obedient to 
Thy word. When time brings sober thoughts of 

this. 
My aid will be recalled. I venture this, 
And wait ; meanwhile, good-day." 



XV. — YOUNG ROGER REFORMS SOMEWHAT. 

Young Roger, rid of me, by wise resolve — 

But wiser still if longer kept — began 

Anew. 'Twas time, indeed ! He hid the past 

As best he could, and best was poor enough. 

He saw approaching ruin in the glass. 

Or dram, — approaching .? nay, at hand ! Deep in 

His soul he cursed the social glass of wine 

Or beer, and swore by all his sin and crime 

Already done, by all the good he yet 

Might do, by all he dared to hope or wish, 

By all fair Elsa's worth, never, never. 

Again to touch or taste the liquid fire ! 

Young Roger reasoned well, resolved as well, 



36 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

But did not carry out his honest wish 
Beyond the mere resolve ; but fell again, 
And rose, and re-resolved, and fell again ; 
And rose again to make his vows anew, — 
But vows he never acted out beyond 
The wish. Thus going on he paved his way 
To hell with good resolves, but leading none 
The less direct for that. 

In struggles hard 
To gain relief from my infernal grasp, 
He battled well with treacherous foe, but fell 
As all must fall who dare to meet my sword 
In strife. He gained, at times, some vantage- 
ground, 
And seemed a while to win the fight. For weeks, 
And once for months, his lips were kept in peace, 

from all 
Unholy liquors dry. But lo ! when least 
Expecting me, I came, — not by myself, 
But one (and not the least) of many, all 
His friends, professed. 

Yet Roger did as well 
As most cou"l'I do. He placed the cup beneath 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 37 

His feet for weeks in stretch, and grew in strength 
Of moral grace. Thus, step by step, the man 
Reformed somewhat ; yet all the while in my 
Control, with my consent. Had I not wished 
To pull down better men, and women too, 
With Roger's fall, I had not yielded thus. 



XVI. — FAIR ELSA PREPARES TO WED. 

A few short months, not more, the wedding-day 
Would come; therewith young Roger's merry 

smiles 
Once more appear to cheer and bless her life. 
She had not seen his face for many days, 
Or pressed his hand, or kissed his lips ; but soon 
She'd meet the chosen one, with him to part 
No more. 

In busy preparation for 
The nuptial day, approaching near and fast, 
Fair Elsa spent the few remaining weeks. 
At much expense, with greater skill and taste. 
At length the wardrobe was complete, of silks 
The richest and the best, all other things 
To match. Fair Elsa's outfit was excelled 
By nothing save her love. 



38 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

The father gave 
Of worldly goods, to bless his child and him 
She loved, without restraint, — piano square 
And grand, the richest silver-plate, and gold 
A fortune quite, or more. The loving, kind. 
Devoted, wealthy father could not have done more, 
And would not have done less. 

Fair Elsa loved 
Young Roger all a noble heart could love. 
And longed to spread, a willing offering, at 
His feet, the least of all, her wealth ; and more, 
A long, devoted life of loving, kind, 
And Gfenerous deeds. 



t>" 



For such unselfish work 
An opportunity came soon enough, — 
Alas, too soon ! With Roger kneeling at 
My shrine of lust and wine, and she at his, 
But blind to all because deceived ; — with this 
I prospered well. 



XVII. YOUNG ROGER WEDS. 

The wedding-morn had come. Young Roger, 
bright 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 39 

As varnished, gilded sin can look, when at 
Its best, came forth to meet his bride. He looked 
A very king, but must have felt much worse. 
Fair Elsa, blushing, pure and white and sweet, — 
Her only fault, she loved too well, not wise 
Enough, — came forth in queenly grace, to meet 
Her lord, once worthy much, but now much less. 

The solemn vows were made. To love, and her 
Alone ; to cheer with constant hand, defend, 
Protect, support, forsaking all but her, — 
He promised well : performing half as well 
Would have been manly, placed in line with what 
He did, or failed to do. Yet promised he 
As all men do, in truth, in hope, in love. 

Fair Elsa also vowed to love, revere. 

Obey, respect, and serve devoted, to 

The end of life, till death should part her hand 

From his. To keep her vow, her solemn pledge. 

She consecrated body, mind, and soul ; 

And, when she fell, she fell defending truth. 

Protecting virtue, and rejecting vice. 

Thus vowing, both were wed ; and, wedding, both 



40 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Were one, or should have been ; and were, except 
What I of him possessed, the union of their hearts 
To mar. 

Fair Elsa, led by such a man, — 
'Twas shame ! Young Roger, leading such a bride, 
So pure, so good, for him too good by far, — 
Was also shame ! But leading thus, and led. 
They started forth as man and wife, — she good 
And true ; he trying to be quite the same. 
But trying much in vain, because of me. 



XVIII. FAIR ELSA S FIRST-BORN. 

In course of time, the marriage brought forth one 
To make the number three, and bless the whole. 
With kiss on kiss, in multitude beyond 
All count, the new-made parents crowned their 

babe. 
And loved it much. The young and sweet 
And anxious mother pressed it to her heart, 
Then held it up to God, and prayed that he 
Would mould its tender heart, and guide its life. 
In love. This prayer might have been answered 

by 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 41 

The gift of much beyond the prayer, had I 
Not, later, stepped between the child, its God, 
And her. 

The child was no small blow to my 
Success. It won young Roger's heart from me, 
To home ; and oft upon his knee, in love. 
He fondled him, his infant son, in great 
Delight. This holy pleasure almost won 
Young Roger from the cup ; for which, in turn 
Of hateful spite, I bent with greater rage 
To ruin all, with special aim at her 
Whose greatest pride was mother. With intent, 
No less to claim the child when older grown 
As my reward, that all, with all who might 
Thereafter come to them by birth, might meet 
Below to swell the drinker's woeful, dark, 
Eternal home. 



XIX. MY DEEP DESIGN. 

To make sure work, to be in time, I called 
To aid young Roger's scientific mind. 
In practice wise for me, but woe to all 
For whom physicians thus prescribe, he lent 



42 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

His aid. Fair Elsa's frame was weak and worn, 

And needed strength. Her doctor-husband, quick 

To apprehend the want, was ready to 

Supply. The chief of which he gave his wife 

To bring renewing vigor on, to give 

Her health and strength, was brandy, wine, and 

gin. 
In turns, to meet the complicated needs. 

Such treatment filled the mother's breast with 
seeds 

Of wicked appetite, by nature's plan 

Transmitted to the child. My double scheme 

Worked well. The nursing mother thrived in 
strength. 

And gained in health. The threefold treatment 
sowed 

In her, and him she fed — as noble, honest moth- 
ers will — 

With milk her yielding breast supplied, the germs 

Of sin and shame. 

With such a plan contrived 
With doctor's aid, — and doctors aid me much 
Beyond their knowing, — I could see her doom 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. $3 

And his, and his she nursed, approaching near. 
Prospered my work of death, Boss Devil's only 
Joy, and only bread. 



XX. SUSPICION WORKS FOR ME. 

I work in many ways, through many men, 
And by a thousand faults or traits of wrong. 
At times by envy's hand I make much game : 
A jealous mind or heart is always worth 
Much pains to me. Ambition, rightly watched, 
Will yield returns of human woe complete. 
Not less suspicion's arm will turn the wheels 
Of crime, if armed by my control. Thus did 
Suspicion now, as you may see. 

A month 
Had scarcely passed since Nellie Waite — by her 
Own hand, as people thought ; but really by 
The fatal drug young Roger gave with foul 
Design — passed on from life, when, lo ! and sad 
To meditate, a clergyman, young and pure. 
And brilliant none the less, and pious more, 
Was thought to have contrived the shame which 
led 



44 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

To crime and suicide. The whole was deep 
In myst'ry hid, and hinted at but here 
And thefe in whisper-words. 

Suspicion stooped 
Perhaps, for him, and acted kind, compared 
With what it does by rule. It cleared him full 
Of part or knowledge in the wicked death, 
But held him to account for shame by which 
The crime was bred. 

But few can tell, in truth, 
Suspicion's birth : all men suspect in some 
Degree, all women greatly most, yet most 
Deceived. Suspect is infant slander born 
And sucking at the breast of doubtful pride. 
Suspect of Rev. Nathan Field, pastor, — 
The clergyman spoken of, — began without 
A cause, and where, no one could tell. To find 
The source of such report, is wisely left 
Alone. My spirit brooding o'er the heart 
Begets a passion to traduce, to wound ; 
And people thus possessed can think and speak 
Of evils never done. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 45 

The talk broke out 
By women in his church. At first by two 
Or three the secret close was held. Alas ! 
The women keep their secrets most by help. 
A secret's no light thing, — too much for one 
To hold. A woman's back is slight : she needs 
Decided help, and, most of all, when needs 
Must be to hold some naughty secret tale. 
In such a case they summon ready help ; 
The neighbors all turn out as volunteers : 
To slight their proffered aid would be unkind. 
Such is the way so many people hold 
What seems to them untold. 

At first his church 
Was full ; then came a spell of dropping off. 
This gave the preacher pain. He said his prayers 
With double force and length ; but one by one, 
And two by two, he missed familiar names. 
To many empty pews he often preached 
And prayed. Each time brought more. His mem- 
bers shunned 
His presence, giving no excuse ; and, worse 
Than all, young ladies turned in cold retreat 
From every path he trod. 



46 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Poor Field ! he could 
Not preach. Disheartened by a thousand slights, 
He reached well-nigh despair. Beside all this 
Young Field had sorrow none could feel 
Or share. He truly loved sweet Nellie Waite, 
And sought to win her heart and hand ; when, 

lo! 
She died in shame. 

At length, distressed beyond 
All name, he sought to solve the mystery. 
To Mrs. Huntington, his friend both true 
And tried, he went to find relief. He thus 
Began : " Good lady, tell, in Heaven's name. 
What means this chilling wave of coldness in 
My church, — the members leaving one by one } 
An explanation I will have, — must have, from 

God 
Or man ! " 

" Good parson, rumor says — There is 
A rumor quite unkind of thee : it floats 
Amid the air. No person says it all ; 
Yet all are saying some. The whole is bad 
Enough." 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 47 

" My friend, you fill me with surprise. 
Declare it all at once : the worst I'm bound 
To know. Say on, say on ! " 

" Some man will tell 
You what is said. It is not right for me 
To speak of matters half so foul : let this 
Be my excuse, I pray." 

" Good lady, tell 
Me all ! I must have quick relief. Let words 
Be guarded well, yet speak at once ; delay 
No more. Deny me this, and thou thyself 
Art guilty of traducing my good name." 

" You know the sudden death of Nellie Waite, 
And how she died in shame, by one unknown. 
Misled ; to cover which, she drank, and died 
By her own hand," she said. 

" I know, I know ! 
But what of this ? That I'm the author of 
Her death, her sin, her shame t Pray hurry on 
And say ! " 



48 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

" The author of her death ? Oh, no ! 
You wrong yourself somewhat. They say, or 

some 
Suspect, you planned and brought to pass her 

shame." 

The reverend Field was thunderstruck, dismayed. 
He turned away in rage, surprise, disgust. 
And half revenge, and half despair. I came 
That way by plan, and offered wine. He drank, 
And drank to drown his woe, but all in vain. 
His grief, unkind suspicion took for guilt. 
And shunned him more ; from which he drank 
The more. And why record the end } 'tis all 
The same with all who drink. 



XXI. GRIEF MEETS GRIEF DISGUISED, 

In my high calling labor must be love. 

Or shunned. I'm ruled by none. Whate'er I do, 

I do but for the joy it brings. With Field 

And Roger well secured, I planned to lead 

Them slowly on, whereby I might enjoy 

The work, and taint as many lives by them 

As pleased my royal wish. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 49 

On pleasure bent 
One day, I brought young Roger hand to 

hand 
With pastor Field ; the latter bowed beneath 
His load of grief, the former smarting by 
His inward guilt, yet each unwilling to 
Admit himself, in any sense, at my 
Command. Since this was so, I offered wine 
To both ; and both partook, which pleased me 

much. 
Their conversation pleased me more. 

Poor Field 
Began : " Say, doctor, tell me how it is. 
I must believe in fate. Without a sin 
To stain my life, but this accursed drink 
In which I've sought to drown my woe, — 
But sought in vain, — I'm branded villain, fiend, 
And driven from the sacred desk to pine 
And die." 

" Dear Field, you wrong yourself, and, worse. 
The God you preach. If guilty of no wrong, 
Then stand upright and bold, a man. 'Tis sin 
To languish or despair, or lose one's hope ; 



50 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

'Tis crime far worse than that with which they 

charge 
Thee falsely. Be a man ! " 

" Your words sound well, 
But do not fit the case. Were I as you 
A doctor, then they would apply ; but, as 
I am, they do not. Preacher's name and fame 
Are sacred ground : whoever steps thereon 
To rob or to traduce, defiles the man, — 
If not with God, with men." 

" Is there no way 
To clear yourself, and stand once more quite free 
From all suspecting taunts t You preach that 

right 
Prevails, not wrong. " 

"There's just one way, not more : 
In this. I'll spend my life, to win or lose. 
The prospect now is dark ; but hope invites. 
And I respond, and struggle on." 

"What is 
That way, pursuing which, succeeding well 
Will set you free, and prove your innocence ? " 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 51 

" To track, detect, expose, and bring to law 
And chains, the author of poor Nelhe's woe 
And death. To this intent I live, and this 
Alone. In this succeeding, I shall die 
In peace. And, Roger, listen well. I here 
Predict I'll find the man, and prove his fault. 
This day I'm on his track ; this day I meet 
Him face to face. Base Roger, you're :he 

man ! 
The author of her shame and woe, and, more, 
Her murderer by foul design ! No man 
Save me has knowledge of the deed ; and, armed 
With proof, I'll bring thee to account." 



XXII. ANOTHER CRIME CONTRIVED. 

Young Roger turned from pastor Field in rage. 

And fear as well, but turned with oaths by which 

In vain reproof he strove to hurl, in death. 

The charges made. No time to lose : I flew 

To Roger's side, and counselled what to do. 

I found him friendly, and all ready to 

Be taught. At times his body shook from 

fear, 
At times from rage. 



52 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

He grasped my hand ; his mind 
In wild excitement flew from thought to thought ; 
Then half subdued, as watching out in fear 
Of being heard, he cried in smothered voice, — 
** The awful deed at least t-o one is known ; 
And how ? Oh that I knew, or he knew less ! ** 

*' Come, Roger, come ! Compose yourself : your 

mind 
Is ill at ease. I thought you brave and true ; 
But coward thou dost seem. Be strong, and fear 
Nothing but fear. To falter now is to 
Be caught and hanged. To stand against each foe, 
With sword in hand, means conquest sure and 

quick. 
Come, Roger, drink, to stay your nerves, and give 
Your mind more play." 

He drank. His nerves were firm, 
His mind as clear and cool. By these improved, 
I thought him ready now to hear my talk. 

" One thing is certain, Roger, sir, — that Field, 
By some way hid from us, but wise (that's plain), 
Knows of the deed by which fair Nellie fell. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 53 

This knowledge makes him fit to die, unfit 

To live. Just let him drink of Nellie's dose, 

And die, in people's eyes, as she hath died 

By rumor well confirmed. The crime enlarged 

Is more a crime, I must admit. But think 

Of wife and child, their name and fame. Should 

Field 
Succeed in finding proof, — in which perchance 
He may, — you hang, and they in shame must live. 
Your only hope, your only chance, is held 
In one affair : the reverend Field must die, — 
Die soon. Consider well. How opportune 
The case! Suppose him dead by trick of 

yours 
And mine : the people will declare his guilt 
The cause which led to suicide. What more 
Is needed to complete our plan, to make 
Success secure ? " 

" You reason well and sound,'* 
Young Roger said, " but deeper lead to crime. 
Is there no way of getting out, instead 
Of deeper in 1 I hate your plan, but must 
Relieve myself from him. Suggest your best, 
Your wisest plan, evading crime." 



54 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

" No way 

Presents to kill a crime, except by crime 
Again. If Field survives my plan contrived 
For you, expect swift woe. Good-day. I'm called 
Elsewhere." 



" What keeps you out so late, my dear, — so late 
Frorn babe and 1 1 He waits with me for your 
Return, then falls asleep, or cries. I wait 
And hope, and hope and wait, expecting your 
Return. At twelve I fear ; at one I doubt ; 
At two you come to banish both, yet leave 
Me with suspect that all's not well. I wish 
In honor bright, my love, to know the cause 
Of this delay, which almost every night 
Confirms my fear." 

Thus Elsa pleaded, still 
In love, in hope, in prayer ; to which, with blunt 
Reproof, young Roger did reply, — 

" My wife, 
You fret and worry much beyond the need. 
A doctor's time is not his own. At ten 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 55 

To-night, I rose to leave my office-rooms 

For home, when some one called in haste. A 

man 
From over-drink had fallen from his horse, 
And broke his back, or hurt his spinal cord. 
I hastened to his side, and did my best 
To save his life. I called physicians to 
My aid, but all was vain : he died." 

" My dear, 
He fell from horse, and died, but died from 

drink. 
May you not fall some other way, and die 
As well from drink } Think well ! Your breaith is 

strong. 
Your eyes are red, your gait forebodes a fall. 

husband ! quit the drink of wine, I pray 
And plead ! " 

" Come, Elsa,stop ! you quite, indeed, 
Mistake your man. I'm slave to no one here 
Or there ; to drink, or thee. I rule myself, 
And go and come at will, and drink when drink 

1 need. I hate complaining wives : complain 
No more to me. Fm sick of life, if life 



56 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

Must needs be broils and faults. In peace my 

home 
Must be, or home no more for me." 

She wept 
And sobbed with grief. Poor Elsa prayed : she 

could 
Do little else. The infant cried : it knew 
Not why, except because the mother cried. 
Young Roger sighed, and suffered mere than all. 



XXIV. A PASTORS SUICIDE, SO CALLED. 

" O ma ! did ever mortal see such awful news ! '* 
Spoke little Bess in great alarm, her eyes 
Intently fixed upon the "Morning Star." 
"That man who used to preach for us so nice, 
But since who fell to drink, to drown what folks 
Declared his guilt or sin, is poisoned by 
His own device. The paper calls it — Well, 
I'll spell it out ; its su-i-cide." 

With such 
A fearful theme, the scandal-mongers thrived 
Right well. The story floated far and near ; 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 57 

The children heard what parents said, and talked 
It o'er among themselves with eager taste 
For sensual food. No blame to learn what's taught 
By mother's tongue, yet often no less wrong. 
The pastor's death, so sudden, unexplained, 
Revived the talk of NeUie's fate. If doubts 
Were entertained before of preacher's guilt, 
They vanished now. The story went the rounds. 
In style this wise : " Poor Field, before the bar 
Of his own conscience proved in guilt, condemned 
To shame, and scorned by public eye, sank by 
Remorse, and sought relief in death. He'll meet 
The victim of his foul deception at 
The bar of God." 

Such are my plans to bring 
To shame, eternal woe, the innocent ; 
To blacken virtue, honor, truth, and make 
The pure impure, — the object not so much 
My present joy, but more to people hell. 



XXV. FAIR ELSA's SECOND DREAM. 

At breakfast late, say nine o'clock, or more, 
Young Roger and fair Elsa sat, in no 



58 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Mean style. The home she made was rich and 

grand 
With all that noble wife could do by taste 
Or means. The doctor read the morning sheet, 
And talked the news condensed to suit his wife. 
At length he found what he was looking for, 
And said, — 

" O Elsa, hear ! The parson Field 
Has suicided too. Last night, — this morn 
At two, I mean, — he drank some fatal drug. 
And died. Alas, alas ! that men will drink 
Themselves to madness thus ! How strange ! " 

" My dear, 
I had a fearful dream last night. To keep 
It secret, I resolved ; but lo ! this news 
You tell relieves my mind somewhat. In this 
It is fulfilled, I hope and pray. The dream 
Was much the same, almost the same, as that 
Of which I wrote to you some months before 
We wed. I thought some one had poisoned me 
In manner much like this : I seemed to live 
Alone. At twelve o'clock, midnight, I sought 
My room for rest. It seemed so strange ! I had 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 59 

Been drinking hard all day and night till then. 

I walked with reeling step ; my eye was dim ; 

I feared no one, nor cared for any thing : 

My thirst was great beyond compare. Upon 

The table in my room, a pitcher small, 

With water cool, awaited my return. 

How strange to say ! it seemed a custom old 

To find the pitcher there. I drank full half 

The contents down before I stopped, so great 

My thirst appeared. This done, I fell upon 

The bed. Then seized by fearful cramps, I 

groaned, 
And did my best to call ; but something tied 
My tongue ; my jaws grew stiff. The noise 
I made was dreadful. Oh, how great my pain ! 
In this condition some half -hour I 
Remained. At length a lady came from fright, 
And rapped upon the door. I could not speak, 
Or rise to let her in. She called my name. 
I partly heard ; but much confused and in 
Much pain, I helpless lay. The door, by force, 
Was broken in. They found me at the point 
Of death, and ran for aid. Physicians came, 
But much too late. I died. 



6o THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

" This dream, my dear, 
So much akin to that I spoke of at 
The first, excited great alarm, and filled 
My heart with fear. The news you read ex- 
plains 
My dream, I hope. But why should I dream thus 
And so ? Can you explain 1 " 

" My dear, your dreams 
Are strange enough. The first you had the 

night 
When Nellie Waite committed death upon 
Herself; this one last night, — the fatal night 
For Field. These dreams keep sacred to thy 

breast, — 
To none reveal. They strangely point to what 
The people all suspect, — that he contrived 
Her death to hide her shame and his." 

" But why, 
My dear, should /have dreams so sad, so full 
Of woe > My sleep was haunted by the scene. 
I fear you read my dreams but half aright. 
They come to warn me of approaching woe, 
It seems to me." 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 6 1 

" Pshaw ! Elsa, take some wine 
And ^gg. Beat well the ^gg, then mix with 

wine; 
Or brandy, better still. You need it much ; 
You're weak, much indisposed, — the cause, 

perchance, 
Of all your dreams." 

" My dear, you wrong yourself, 
And me as well. No brandy, wine, or egg 
Can cure in this. I feel a mighty wrong 
Is somewhere hid, and soon will come to light. 
By rule, I don't believe in dreams : in these 
Of mine, I do. The preacher and the girl 
Whom all suspect of self-inflicted death 
Have died from other hands. I feel it more 
And more, — I cannot tell you why, — that he. 
And she as well, were true and pure and good 
Until misled, until abused. They fell by foul 
Design, is my belief." 

" It may be so. 
My wife. Speak not of such abroad, I pray. 
The tongue of scandal now has work enough. 
And more : mix not yourself with this." 



62 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

*' I fear 
To mix in such a plot ; but, love, hear me. 
If intuition tells the truth, I'll mix 
In this against my will. It has some claim 
On us. Oh that it were not so ! " 

" Oh, pshaw ! 
The women always prophesy, and dream, 
And tell of coming woe. Elsa, adieu ! 
Give me a kiss till I return." This said, 
Young Roger left the house. 



XXVI. MY FATHER AND MYSELF. 

Dear reader, turn a while with me, and leave 
The story partly told, of Roger's and 
Fair Elsa's fate, for other scenes : when done 
With these, again we'll trace their fortunes to 
The bitter end. My father and myself 
I'll speak of now. 

I shall not speculate 
In thought, or dabble in deep themes beyond 
Demand. If what I write is dry, or lacks 
The juice of romance, still, I beg you, read; 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 63 

For, failing to amuse, I'll give, without 
Display of words, instruction rare, worth more 
By far. 

At first let me repeat 
What all must know. My father, once in rank 
Exalted high, was God's chief counsellor, 
The premier of heaven. The story of 
His foul revolt, defeat, expulsion great 
Of him and all his host, is wisely told 
By Milton, not inspired less than those 
Who wrote divine. The same deep thinker 

pens 
My father's wisely planned attempt on man 
And wife in Eden placed. He tempted Eve, 
And Eve herself in sin drew Adam on ; 
And both in sorrow fell. 

Much later on, 
When mercy's scheme was ripe, a Saviour born, 
My father met the Son, and challenged him 
To fight. Three deadly rounds proved quite 

enough ; 
My father fell, and fled back to his home. 
Away from light, the haunt of fiends. 



64 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

He called 
A council great, the greatest ever held, 
And wisest too by far ; so great, so wise, 
So full of great events, it marked the start 
Of a new era in my father's realm, — 
An era much the same, the start of which 
Was marked by birth of Christ. 

The council did 
Not rise for years : in study deep and long, 
Debates progressed in secret halls. At length 
My father, wisest of them all by far. 
His silence broke. He gave instruction deep 
And grand, at which applause was freely made. 

"To meet the wise," he said, "without defeat, 

We are compelled to meet them with their own. 

Wise only can confront the wise, and win. 

Or shun defeat. The High and Great whom once 

I served, in rank but one degree below 

Himself, has sought to pluck from me my gains 

At Eden's fight, by incarnation of 

Himself. In this great plan he links himself 

With man, and may communicate thereby 

With him, or he with Him, at will. This stroke 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 65 

Means my defeat, unless with equal stroke, 
So much like his, I meet him on the line 
Of his own plan and thought, and thus divide 
The spoil. 

** Let this be done. Like my great foe, 
I'll bear a son, the incarnation of 
Myself. In him I'll link humanity 
To my own heart, and lead the race as He 
Has planned to lead, by spirits' power." 

I am 

That son, the equal too of him by whom 
I'm sent. And lo, I come to do his will ; 
I and the father one ; the spirit we 
Impart proceeds from both alike : we give 
On equal terms. Thus one in three, and three 
In one, triune, we stand complete. 



XXVII. WHAT INCARNATION IS, AND WHY. 

This word is misapplied, and made to show 
Or signify much less than I perceive 
It means ; or else we lack a word complete 
Enough to set forth clearly what I mean. 



66 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Externalize would do, perhaps, as well 
And better too, yet it's not broad enough. 
A cross between the two, embracing all 
That's signified by both, would do, and would 
Apply with equal force to matter and 
To mind, and both at once. But, of the two, 
I'll use the first, elastic quite enough 
To serve the end in view. 

This world 
Is full on every hand, miscalled by me, 
Of incarnation, — incarnate God, 
Incarnate man, incarnate devil too. 
The rocks, the hills, the seas, the stars, the 

sun 
And moon, the light, the heat, the air, and life 
In every form, are traces of the mind 
Of God, — his thoughts externalized. They show 
His work, his mind, portray his style and taste 
And skill, and disposition quite as much. 

The ships that sail the mighty seas, the rail 
That spans the continent, the cars that roll, 
The cities proudly built, electric threads 
Of wire, girding earth to move our thoughts 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 67 

By flash, — all these and thousands more ; the 

words 
We speak, are traces of the mind of man, 
His thoughts externalized : they show his work, 
And imitate his mind ; they are the man 
Lived out, developed by the nerve and will. 

The envies, spites, and quarrels, deceits, and crimes, 
The murders, suicides, and wars, and sin 
Of every sort ; the brandy, wine, and gin. 
Tobacco, and ten thousand other things, — 
Are traces of the Devil's mind, his thoughts 
Externalized. These are the Devil's secret plans 
Made manifest. 

Thus God and man — not less 
The Devil too — are in a race, it would . 
Appear, each bent on incarnation grand, — 
Externalize both new and great. 
The heart and soul of each are coming forth 
Revealed in things of form and shape, expressed 
Or made. In this grand race or enterprise 
I came, the Devil's great incarnate son. 
To mark hell's grand achievement of all deeds 
By far exalted most. Since hell began. 



68 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

My birth of all events is greatest ; yes, ■ 

By many times the chiefest thing of all 

My father's mighty works. To earth I came 

On mission grand and high and great, if viewed 

From devils' stand and aim. 



XXVIII. MY SON, THE SECOND BOSS. 

To incarnate 
Myself I sought to do, on mighty plan. 
On mighty scale. My plan, excelled but by 
The sweep of its success, has filled the world 
With traces of my mind, with forms to match 
My soul in shape. My incarnation was 
Too wide, too great, to be confined to one, 
A single son : the plan required more, 
In number beyond count. 

The chiefest of 
Them all, the second boss of devils has 
Become, although my son, grandson of him 
Whose will I do, who rules below. His name 
Is Debt. In rank on earth he's next to me. 
In crime of different sort, but quite as rich 
With spoils for hell, he spends his mighty power. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 69 

His royal sway extends to all mankind, 
But chiefest felt in the New World. His throne- 
Is there, and there his form is chiefest seen. 

To tell 
But one of many deeds of his, by which 
He fills the earth with woe, I needs must write 
A book for that alone. To separate 
The man and wife, is not of small concern 
To us : in this he often prospers well. 
The home to undermine he seeks. To pull 
It down, and scatter all its sacred scenes 
Abroad, is his delight to do, and mine 
To see it done. 

Of all my sons, I love 
This one called Debt the best. To him I lend 
Most aid, in him I take most pride. If e'er. 
As time rolls on, men should subdue my throne 
(Which cannot be while time endures), this son 
Called Debt, the second boss, must needs succeed 
To wear my royal crown, and rule as chief. 
He is beloved by better men than I, 
And has in human heart far more esteem. 
While I compel, coerce, enforce, he wins, — 



70 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Ofttimes the better wa}^ But he's restrained 
By laws of men, which make his progress slow 
At times ; while I evade, defy, defeat 
The law, and run my course at will. 

He gives 
Employ to many men, and grades, by ranks 
Or class, his help. The first, the highest of 
Them all, are lawyers, called by name. This 

class 
Include the wisest, smartest men of earth. 
They plead, in every case, in his behalf, 
On legal grounds, and give him greater speed. 
Among this class, the best of men, a few, 
Above the rest in skill, and versed in law 
The most, called judges to define their grade 
Of special rank, decide for him. 

The grade 
Or class below the first is less esteemed 
And less revered, but feared somewhat the most. 
They go by many names, which people speak 
With awe. Constable, sheriff, and police. 
In turn they're called. Of other classes I'll 
Refuse to speak just now. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 7 1 

Thus held in high 
Esteem by best of men, and aided by 
Their skill, their laws, he prospers well, well earns 
The rank of second boss. 

XXIX. MY SECOND SON, AND BOSS THE THIRD. 

My second son is great in being held. 

By men, of small account. By this he leads 

His victims unobserved. By much unlike 

His brother Debt, he seldom works alone, 

But mostly pulls in line with my designs. 

I often call him roper-in, for short. 

Admitted, often, where I cannot go. 

He talks of me in due respect, and makes 

Me many friends ; and later on they call 

To see the father, in respect, of course, that's due 

The son. 

This boss the third is stationed on 
The line that leads from me to honest, good. 
And sober men, half way between. If he 
Succeeds in finding favor at their hands. 
He seldom fails to bring them on for my 
Embrace. A go-between would be a name 



72 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Appropriate indeed, for whom you've called 
Tobacco or Cigar. The name I'll leave 
Unchanged to suit your taste. 

This son, and boss the third, 
By climbing slow and sure, — yet not so slow 
When we compare success with proper speed, — 
Has reached great eminence, — a source, by no 
Means small, of revenue for nation and 
For state, and merchandise for safe and sure 
Investments. Thus he has become and is 
An element of power on earth ; in worth 
His value next to bread, compared with gold. 

My son, this boss the third, is wise and shrewd. 
The wisest of my stock in some respects : 
His service I could part with little less 
Than life. No less the foe of man than I, 
Yet less regarded so, he gains no small 
Advantage thus. He makes demand for me 
By secret work, so well contrived that few 
If any e'er suspect his plan. He learns 
The child to smoke. This learned, the boy is half 
Way learned to drink. And smoking much cre- 
ates 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 73 

A kind of thirst, that nought but rum can full 
Supply. 

If men would crush the drink, let them 
First kill tobacco ; for, should they slay me 
And spare my child, but little then is done. 
Enough of this. 



XXX. MY CHILDREN AND MY WIFE. 

My son called Debt, the second boss, I've spoke 

Of at some length ; as also of my son 

Tobacco or Cigar, boss third in line 

Of devils' rank. These are but two, by no 

Means all I have. The others I'll not speak 

Of now. Their numbers are too great by far. 

Their names, a list of which would more than 

fill 
This book, I must omit to give ; but chief 
Among them are the cards, the chess, the dice, 
The keno, faro, and all games of chance. 
The race-course, and the bets that win or lose. 
All these, a thousand more beside, belong 
To me, were born to suit my will and serve 
My wish. 



74 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

My wife, if wife she should be called, 
Or wife she is or was to me, of which 
I have my doubts, since if I call her wife 
I must abridge the term, or make her to ' 

Appear the mother of my children ; but 
If as wife she failed in this, then this 
Were all. With hand in hand, since I began 
My work at first, we've journeyed on as one. 
We make a perfect match. Each lacks and needs 
What each can give. Her age exceeds my own 
By many years ; yet, always young and gay. 
It matters not. With us, so well preserved, 
The greatest age improves our youth the best. 

She shares the rank of boss with me. We reign 
Conjointly on a double throae. The crowns 
We wear are joined, attached, — an emblem of 
The perfect unity of aim and life which we 
Embrace. Her queenly robes in royal folds 
Entice, attract, and lend a charm by which 
I profit much. The millions bowing at 
Her shrine and mine are puzzled much to know 
Just whom they worship most, or most adore. 
A few, and few indeed, embrace my wife, 
And turn their backs on me, without respect 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 75 

Enough to take my hand, or recognize 
My rank. A smaller number still make out 
To worship me, ignoring her. But all 
Mankind, with slight exceptions named, embrace 
Us both at once with equal force and love. 
The homage paid my wife the queen is much 
Improved if warmed by heat of mine ; again, 
The service paid to me is much enlarged. 
Improved, if gilded by the touch of her 
I love. 

The world has given many names. 
All odd and queer, to designate my queen ; 
But one broad term is quite enough to make 
It plain : that term is Sensuality. 
On her I can depend for ready help. 
If help I need. At once both queen and wife, 
By some called Lust, she matches every wish 
And purpose of my life with counter-plot 
So well contrived as to secure success 
In every plan. Such is my wife. 



XXXI. FAIR ELSA MEDITATES. 

I'll speak more of myself, when farther on. 
But meanwhile let us turn again, and bring 



76 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

The story of fair Elsa's life of love, 

And that of Roger's fate, to further issues. 

Young Roger turned in rapid haste, and left 
The room. The dream fair Elsa told was more 
Than he could bear. Out in the morning air 
He felt relieved. Alas ! how soon he met 
The knowledge of his latest deed abroad ! 
But let us leave him to his fate a while. 
And wait with Elsa in her solemn doubt 
And saddest fear. 

A woman has a gift 
To understand what men would never know 
But by their aid. Fair Elsa had this gift 
On no mean scale. Her double dream, compared 
With double crime, gave fear that would not be 
Dismissed. She meditated long and deep ; 
Her fear increased by doubt and by suspect 
Of whom she could not, would not name. 

Her doubts 
Gave birth to plan, and plan to bold resolve. 
She loved her husband more and more, despite 
His faults ; but, woman-like, she wished and longed 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 77 

To know the cause of dreams which seemed real 
Facts. A thought ! had Roger ever known 
Poor NelUe Waite, so long since dead ? Perhaps 
He had ; and if — what then ? The answer was 
Beyond her depth of thought. She did not care 
To ask of him without excuse ; excuse 
Could not be had. 



Bethinking of a trunk 
Long since neglected, stored away, unused, 
Once kept by Roger ere he wed ; and led 
By strange impulse of doubt and fear, she bade 
The servant mind the babe, and went in search. 
The trunk was locked, which made a double need 
Why she should look within. With many keys 
She tried and tried : at length one turned the bolt. 



XXXII. ROGER DISSECTING HIS VICTIMS BODY. 

Young Roger scarcely reached his business rooms 
Down town, when summoned by the law he stood, 
Dissecting-knife in hand, before the corpse 
Of pastor Field. The jury wished to make 
Post-mortem sure and deep. In order to . 
This end, the stomach must be taken out. 



78 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

Its contents then revealed by doctor's test. 
This duty to perform, the nearest man 
Who practised allopathic school was called, — 
And called, as fate would have it done, the man 
By whose own hand, in base design, poor Field 
Had died. 

" And must I come to this, to cut 
The body of my victim, dead, — distort 
And mangle him whom I have slain 1 It is 
Too much for me," said Roger to himself, 
Before he drew the knife upon the corpse. 
While standing by its side, full face to face 
With him so cold in cruel death. 

Had I 

Not hastened to his aid, the task were far 

Too much for Roger's nerve. He drank and drank 

Again, and rallied to the work : to fail 

In this attempt would put suspicion on 

His track. He cut the blackened flesh, made black 

By pains of death. The work was worth his life 

To do ; but by my aid he struggled through 

In wretched style, — a style that would have put 

The jury on his track, had they not called 

It fruits of over-drink. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 79 

From evidence 
Secured by witnesses and by the test 
The doctor made, the verdict came. They one 
And all agreed to call it suicide. 

Poor Roger washed -his hands, but could not make 
Them white. The blood for vengeance cried, in 

stains 
That could not be removed. His head was bowed 
In shame, his heart in guilt. His brain reeled 

to 
And fro, beyond control. Life was not life, — 
But aches, and pains, and fears, and doubts, and 

shocks. 
And fearful expectation of result. 
He would that he could die, if dying might 
Release him from his woe. 

His ruin was 
Complete. I laughed with joy, in pride, at all, 
And left him to his fate. Why spend my time 
On him, a wreck } Fair Elsa I must win 
To shame and death, their children unto woe 
And shame as well. With this to do, and more, 
With all my work outstretching wide as man, 



8o THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

I must leave Roger now ; but taking leave 
I'd give him one more call. 



XXXIII. — FAIR ELSA S DISCOVERY. 

The trunk I spoke of just before revealed, 
When open, much ; but all of no account. 
It would appear, until the search was done, 
When carelessly her hand disturbed a till : 
In this a single letter lay, addressed 
In female hand, with Roger's name. 

'Twas more 
Than she could bear. . With woman's mind to 

know. 
She opened quick, and read ; and thus it ran : — 

" O Roger, come to my relief ! come soon, 
I pray. This sin is yours as much as mine. 
And more : I fell in your embrace. What will 
I do } You said you knew enough to save 
Me from results. In this you failed, or will 
Fail soon unless you haste. Prepare, I pray, 
Some medicine, in taking which I may 
O'ercome the deed you forced me to commit, 
ril call to-morrow eve at five. Please meet 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 8 1 

Me at your office-door, and pass the dose 
Unseen to. me." 

In Roger's wild affright, 
Excited by his first resolve to give 
Her poison, he forgot to burn the note 
We just have read, but dropped it in his trunk ; 
And there it lay for years untouched, unseen, 
Unthought of too. 

The note fair Elsa read 
Once more. The shock she could not bear. What 

it 
Revealed, when aided by her dreams, was plain 
Indeed. She took her bed, and tried to pray, 
But all in vain. The letter she concealed, 
Securely hid. The servant tried to soothe 
Her mind, console her heart : that, too, was vain : 
She only cried the more, and groaned with pain 
In greater stress. 

At length when Roger came 
She said, " My dreamy my di'eam ! it haunts me 

much. 
It will not be dismissed. O Roger, tell 
Me what it means ! " 



82 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

" Oh, fudge ! you dream and fret, 
And fuss too much. Arise, let's dine. Shake off 
This nightmare ! Come, be ladyHke ! " 

" Alas ! 
Dear Roger, take your seat upon this stool. 
Shut to the door, and let us speak of things 
Not safe for other ears to hear." 

He closed 
The door at her request, and, trembling like 
A leaf from fear, knelt by her side, and asked, — 
"What means your strange request 1 " 

" O Roger ! let: 
Me ask of you a question hard. Say not 
That I am childish in this wish, but grant 
Me my request. I long to know ! " 

" Of course. 
My child : ask on. What can it be } what makes 
- You tremble thus } why fear so much 1 " 

"I fear.? 
Why, Roger, you fear more, and tremble more. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 83 

Explain the cause of this, I pray : why should 
This be?" 

" Because your fear excites my own. 
Aside from this, I've been dissecting Field's 
Cold form, to find the drug from which he died. 
It moved my nerves. That's all : ask on." 

"Well, tell 
Me this : Did you know Nellie Waite, who died 
Some years ago, from poison drank, — who died 
The night of my first awful dream } " 

"I did. 

That is, I saw her pass from day to day ; 
And may have met her once or twice, not more, 
At hall or church. But why this question, 
pray ? " 

" O husband, that's not all ! Confess the truth, 
I pray. My heart is breaking fast. My love 
For thee is stronger as I sink : I'll love 
Till death; but, ere this monster deed shall 

break 
My heart, confess to me the truth." 



84 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

"What truth 
Shall I confess ? Explain yourself ! Be quick ! 
What mystery hid from me is this that tears 
Thy breast ? I'll stand suspense no more." 

" Shall you 
Confess to me, or I reveal to you 
What you already know ? Come, husband, tell 
The whole to me, your truest friend, your wife. 
What secret should you keep from me ? " 



XXXIV. 1 PAUSE, MY WORK REVIEW. 

I'm anxious that in giving Elsa's fate, 
And telling Roger's end, the reader will 
Become informed of me, and how I work 
The work of woe and death. In order to 
This end, I'll change a while, and speak more of 
Myself. Returning soon, we'll bring the tale 
Begun to scenes of greater woe. 

I'll show 
You how I work the work of sin and death. 
'Tis easy told, yet hard to understand. 
I'm not confined to any place, or time, 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 8$ 

Or special form : all times and places are 
At my command, all forms and shapes I own. 
I work on system well contrived, and well 
Arranged, adapted well to human wants 
And human weakness. I begin on men 
While yet unborn. As God has linked himself 
To man by his grand scheme, uniting two — 
The natures human and divine — in one. 
And giving course for spirit force to flow 
From heart of God to heart of man, the last 
To warm and bless thereby, — so I by birth 
Contrived, by incarnation fixed and done, 
Have linked the Devil's heart with heart of man, 
And made a track or cord on which may flow 
The Devil's spirit from the mint of hell. 
Where it is forged to fill the Devil's heart. 
To hearts of men ; and, flowing fast and broad 
And warm, has well infused the stock of man. 
But few can boast complete exception from 
My blood. There's scarce a man or maid on 

earth 
In whose pent veins some' drop of blood sur- 
charged 
With breath of mine, flows not. If not received 
By my embrace themselves, they brought it with 



86 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Them by their birth, from mother's veins. Thus 

man 
Has mixed his nature with my own, by hell's 
Wise scheme of fiendish incarnation of 
My birth before described. 

I live and work 
Opposed to Christ. He is my foe by birth, 
By nature too. We met in conflict sore, 
And fought alone. He left me prostrate on 
The sands of that wild wilderness in which 
He fasted forty days and nights. I rose 
Resolved to conquer yet, or, failing this. 
To capture half the spoils of earth. We meet, 
The two incarnate sons. Our weapons are 
The same, only reversed : the truth his sword ; 
The lie is mine ; and both are wielded by 
A spirit sent. 

Men love, embrace us both. 
And hate us both. On this we are at par. 
With difference yet in favor of my case. 
My latest dodge has been to dress in white, 
To imitate the saint of God, and, armed 
With a physician's recommend, to gain 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 87 

Admission to the Saviour's ranks. In this 
I meet with great success, and push with ease 
My trusted subjects in as born of God. 

From first to last has been my plan and aim 
To follow each design of Christ, my foe, 
And^meet him everywhere on line with his 
Own scheme. He sent forth preachers: so 

have I. 
He builds and sets a house apart to teach 
His way and will : I've ten to one of his. 
He bands mankind in circles held in form 
By cords of love and fellowship : in this 
I more than match him everywhere. 

In Boston, Mass., his churches number up 
To fifty-five and more. In that same Hub 
Mine number thousands nearly three. In this 
I am ahead, you see, by far. Again, 
The numbers that attend on his are few 
Compared with those who come in multitude 
To worship at my shrine. But why compare } 
If numbers tell, — and count them here on 

earth 
Or' down in hell, — I've far outran my foe. 



88 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

The fall of Elsa, and of Roger too, 
The fate of Nellie Waite, and doom of Field, 
Are only sparks that fly from my machine 
Which turns out human woe. 



XXXV. — POOR ROGER S CONFESSION. 

Young Roger, though by Elsa pressed with tears. 
Would not confess, but stoutly met the whole 
With cunning artifice. Alas ! How soon 
His race was run ! Suspicion fell on him ; 
And, e'er he knew the rumor was afloat. 
Detectives got the proper thread, and, stitch 
By stitch, unravelled back, revealing all 
The crime. Young Roger, bound in chains, was 

cast 
By cruel hands behind unyielding bars 
Of iron stout and strong, to try his hand 
At prison life, and wait the coming trial. 

This gave him time to meditate, to weigh 
The case. I sought admission to his cell. 
The jailer would not let me in, in form ; . 
And so I sent my spirit, to request 
A message stating what, if aught, my hand 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 89 

Might do. I did this but to mock his woe. 
He howled with pain. 

The trial soon came on. 
I stood in high esteem with judge, and with 
The counsel for the state, and for the man 
Arraigned. The jury, all but one, were friends 
Of mine. By this good fortune I was asked 
To take a seat beside the judge. I did, 
And was. in greatest measure entertained. 

The trial was short : the counsel finished soon ; 
The jury all agreed that he commit 
The crimes, and, thus beheving, said through one 
Who's styled foreman :. " Guilty ! " 

The judge pronounced, with great effect on all 
Who heard : '' Young Roger, you have sinned 

against 
The majesty of law, and you must hang 
Until you die. May God have mercy on 
Your soul ! " 

Young Roger wept, then nerved himself 
To die. The fatal day soon came. With rope 



90 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

Around his neck, he stood about to take 
The last long leap, or plunge, that leads to hell ; 
So full of me, he could not, would not, yield 
To God's demands, and bow repentant at 
His feet. He held out stubborn to the last, 
Or nearly so. But just before the rope 
Was cut, before the scaffold fell, they asked 
Him what he wished to say. His lips began 
To move and jerk by wild emotion's wave. 
He stammered out, — 

" All men who hear or read, 
Give ear to me : I have a right to speak. 
My life to-day I give in answer for 
My crime. 'Tis just ; but, oh that this were all! 
I give my soul to hell, to suit the law 
Divine : that is far worse. The crime for which 
I die, with which I'm charged, I did through ill 
Advice. I owe it all to drink : 'twas wine 
And whiskey led me on. Had I not heard 
To these, then I were free. Beware, take heed 
And warning by my life ; avoid strong drink. 
To touch it is to die. To this cold world 
I leave my children dear, and wife who loved 
Me far too well. To God I would commend 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 9 1 

Their lives. Oh, may they never meet the one 
They loved on earth, beyond the tide of death ! 
But find a home beyond, above the land 
Of endless woe to which I haste, — a home 
With God. Again, beware of drink ! Good-by ! " 

The scaffold fell ; Young Roger struggled once, 
And died, and passed beyond the bounds of time 
To pay the debt a murderer owes. 



XXXVI. WORSE THAN ALL. 

To pull fair Elsa down was most my aim. 
That Roger fell, I could rejoice ; but joy 
For me was incomplete while Elsa lived 
From sin. Her woe at Roger's loss was no 
Small satisfaction : yet to see her thus 
O'ercome, subdued, was not enough. I gained 
In this. She came forth as a bride, all fair 
And pure, beloved, esteemed, and good. To-day, 
From deeds of mine, she stood a wreck in mind, 
A widowed slave to public odium. 
Once sought to grace and lend attraction to 
The grandest entertainments of the rich ; 
But now, alas ! evaded by the high ; 



92 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

And shunned by those, beneath her real worth 
By far, she bent beneath my rod. 

There were 
A few who sympathized, and came with hearts 
And hands to spread the down of sacred love 
And fellowship along her thorny way. 
But these were they who hate the sight and name 
Of me ; the few whom I have failed to bring 
Beneath my ro4, whom my grand Foe has caught 
To fill the gospel net. I long in wish. 
And work in wise design, to conquer these ; 
But all in vain. And yet, why fret for these t 
I have the most by far ! 

There's one last way 
To win a case, with me, which seldom fails. 
I meve the multitude with dark suspect 
Of him or her whose life I seek to win 
For hell. There's nought so hard as to be 

thought. 
By honest folks, the friend to vice, the foe 
To good ; to be thought guilty of a crime 
From which you'd shrink with holy fear and shame. 
This mood breeds thirst for drink; nay, more, a 

thirst 



' THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 93 

To leave the good, by which it falsely seems 
You are despised, and take the wrong by which 
You are embraced. 'Twas plan like this by which 
I caught the reverend Field. 'Twas plan like this 
By which I sought to ruin her, whose lord 
I led to blackest death before. 

Two months, 
And scarcely that, had passed, when Elsa saw 
A strange neglect in all her friends. They came 
Seldom, and merely called to say ** good-day," 
And leave. Her heart, already well-nigh broke, 
Could ill put up with this. She must have one 
Or two true friends to lean upon, or sink. 

To those who still remained her friends professed, 
She spoke her grief out plain, — a grief well-nigh 
Despair : " What have I done ? What have I done. 
That all should treat me thus .? That God would 

take 
The children and myself to him ! " In this 
Complaining way, despairing mood, she plead 
For consolation, help, or sympathy. 
But none of these they gave. No : poisoned with 
Suspicion's breath, they smote and blessed at once 
With either hand. They said, — 



94 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. ' 

" Dear friend, beloved, 
Forsaken one, thy children and thyself 
Need care and love ; and both we bring, in full 
Supply to give. But tell us first, hast thou 
Contrived and played a part with him in crime, 
To aid thy husband on ? Didst thou assist 
Or plan in either crime ? Or art thou free 
And innocent ? Prove which of these thou art, 
And clear thyself of foul report, or prove 
It true. If pure and good, as we suppose. 
While many more deny, then count on us : 
If not, we leave thee to thy doom." 

'Twas quite 
Enough. Poor Elsa screened her face from view, 
Reclining motionless ; and made but one 
Reply, — her moans. They hit on these as proof 
Of guilt ; and colder grew, and bolder spake, 
Demanding explanation. 

"Yes, 'tis hard. 
If thou hast sinned, or helped thy husband on, 
Then fail not to expect the grief, its sure 
Result ; and bitter woe, reward of crime. 
But answer, else thy moans we must infer 
To mean a wail of guilty grief." 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 95 

'Twas hard, 
Indeed, — too hard to bear. Poor Elsa moaned 
Again, — a requiem of woe, — and that 
Was all. She answered not a word. 

Her friends 
Began to fear. Qne bent herself beside 
Poor Elsa's couch, and whispered words of 

hope. 
The words were heeded not. The ear for which 
They came was closed to all without, that all 
Within might best be heard. This was an hour 
Of great solemnity. 

The girl and boy 
Clung to the mother's skirts, in tears. The girl, 
The younger of the two, with sunny curls 
Just budding out, cried, " Ma, ma, take me up ! " 
And reached its little hands in attitude 
Of earnest pleading. But the boy, somewhat 
More grown, had sense of shame and fear, he 

knew 
Not why ; and hid his face, and cried aloud. 
To all the sinking mother answered with 
Repeated moans, as dying from despair. 



96 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

Of all the devils I am boss. Of this 

I spake before ; and this you now may see 

In horrid order of display. To add 

Or multiply a woman's grief, a wife's 

Despair, a mother's woe, is that in which 

I prove my title to my special rank. 

All other grief but mine may be withstood. 

But that which I contrive will break the best 

Of human hearts ; will disarrange and craze 

The best of human minds. 

By grief like this 
I slay those whom I cannot win, destroy . 
Those whom I cannot prostitute, or bring 
To degradation. And with grief like this 
I captured Elsa, by a plan as wise 
As black. 



XXXVII. FAIR ELSA S DEED, OR MINE. 

When left alone, fair Elsa rose^ and closed 

The windows down, and shut the doors. She took 

The youngest child of two, a little girl 

But one year old, and clasped it to her breast ; 

Then held it up to God, and bade him claim 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 97 

His own. In frantic mien, she pressed her boy 
The same. Then from a secret till she took 
The fatal phial, (obtained we'll mind not where), 
And mixed a dose for each. 

This done, sh« knelt 
And prayed : " My God, who knoweth all 
My woe, hear thou my prayer. I'm guilty of 
No crime, yet crime is in my heart, and crime 
I mean to do. My grief has reached a pitch 
I cannot bear. For me to live is shame. 
Reared by a holy mother'^s hand, I grew 
To love the right, and hate the wrong. By some 
Sad fate, I loved a man who loved the cup : 
That love has sealed my doom. A widow of 
A murderer, suspected too of crime 
Myself, I cannot longer live. I raise 
My hand to cut the thread that binds my life 
To earth. Oh, grant this as thy will ! To leave 
My children here, alas ! I never can : 
I'll take them hence with me to thee ; and, one 
In either hand, I shall appear. Forgive 
If this is sin or crime : to me it seems 
The right. If wrong, if sin enough to shut 
Me out from God, then take the children home; 



98 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

And send me down to join him whom I loved 

On earth, and, while I have this heart, must love 

In all the ages yet to come, in earth 

Or hell or heaven. If he must suffer there 

For evermore, to pay for crimes strong drink 

Induced him to commit, then, if I am 

To choose, give me my lot with him ; but take 

The children to thyself. Amen ! " 

This prayer — 
If prayer it was — completed, Elsa rose, 
And sat herself to write the world a last 
Farewell. 

" Adieu, cold, cruel world ! Farewell -■ 
I leave to-day, and take those whom I claim 
A right to take, — my girl and boy. To save 
Them from such grief as I have met, is cause 
Enough, excuse enough, for this. To give 
A reason further for the deed against myself, 
Would be to speak against accusers whose 
Vile accusations make my grief as hard 
To bear, as they are false. I die as free 
From crime, except the crime which ends 
My life and theirs I bore, as infant child. 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 99 

Those who suspect me of complicity 

With crimes which proved my husband's death, 1 

charge 
As guilty of all crime which I commit. 
God bless my ma and pa, and all the friends 
At home, — a home once dear, yet dear, but which 
I cannot mar by presence such as mine. 
I bid that home, and this, and all the world, 
Adieu ! " 

This note she left where all who came 
Would see and read. She dressed the little girl 
For bed, and gave the dose in full supply. 
Just after prayers were said. The boy was next 
Prepared ; and, taking his, was placed beside 
The girl. The mother drank the portion left, 
Intended for herself, and took her place 
Between the girl and boy, with head of one 
On either arm. In triune sleep they fell. 
To wake no more in time. 



XXXVIII. — CONCLUSION. 

To estimate 
The crime and woe I bring to man each year, 



lOO THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

Just multiply the whole that I have said 

Throughout the pages of this little book, 

Five million times. The sum of this will fall 

Below true estimate of yearly gain 

To hell, from earth, by work of mine. To find 

The total sum of all I've done to man 

Since I began, increase or multiply 

The whole a thousand times or more, and still 

The half is yet untold. 

If man were rid 
Of me, the earth would be a paradise. 
Nine-tenths of all the ills, of all the woes, 
That men inflict, would disappear, were I 
Dismissed. To rid the earth of me would be 
To conquer hell, to put an end to plans 
My father fitly makes. It can't be done ! 
I challenge all mankind, the angels, and 
Their God, to drive me from the earth. 

^ The law, 

As made by men, has tried to prohibit 
My stay with them. A farce indeed ! I can 
Defy all men, all law, all powers, all states. 
And nations too. Not God himself has yet 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. loi 

Contrived a way — or if, his way is yet 
Untried — to put me down. I live, and work 
My work of death, defiant to all law 
And God. 

A few, called temperance men, — a lot 
Of sorry fools, — assail my throne with blast 
Of trumpet to attract, with pledge and law, 
To bind them back from sin, and me from deeds 
Of crime. Their cause is good enough, — the best 
Of all but one except. But by a plan 
Contrived and put in force by me, the cause 
Has been disgraced by men below its rank. 
So much is this the case, that men of means 
And rank of honor, or of name, evade 
A place amid their ranks, and keep silent 
Concerning me, which means for me to thrive. 

The temperance work, so called, has aims all right, 
But fails in wisdom to attain the right 
It seeks. Its plans are slim, unpopular, 
And weak. The men who seek to execute 
These plans are not the men for any work, 
Except a very few. They've left the church 
Of God because they could not lead or speak and 
pray 



102 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

The most ; and sought another field in which 
Their talents to display. In this they make 
The most of what they have the least. They do 
More harm than good, " excepting here and there 
A man," more good than harm to me. These stand 
Between all danger and my throne. 

Would men succeed 
In driving me from earth, let me suggest 
The plan. If wisdom such as mine has won 
The race this far, may not the same contrive 
A way to overthrow itself .-* Since all 
The efforts of all time, or nearly so. 
Against my crown have failed, I'll condescend, 
Myself, to tell what must be done to win 
In fight when I oppose. It may seem strange, 
That I impart advice against myself : 
It only seems. Advice against myself 
Will do no harm except you heed ; and heed 
You never will. 

I must be fought by man, 
Assisted by his God, this way, if he 
Would win : The army must divide in two, 
A right wing and a left, — the right, the Church; 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 103 

The left, the world. I am a foe alike 

To Christian, Jew, and Gentile. Hence the 

Church 
And man without the Church, should stand against 
My arms. The first, the Church, must take a step 
Of bold resolve, and make the pledge to keep, 
A test of membership. While Christians drink 
Without expulsion from the ranks of God, 
No hope is left fo rid the world of me. 
The second step the world must take, and form 
The army's strong left wing. It must provide 
A place, a time, a plan, at which, by which, 
The young, in social interchange of thought 
And word, may meet, and spend their leisure hours. 
Mankind was made for intercourse, as well 
For fellowship. Man cannot live alone. 
The sexes are alike in this. To meet 
Each other often here, and talk and laugh 
And joke, is simple nature working out 
Its grand designs. 

I come to meet and cheer 
The stranger on his way, and find him friends. 
There's not a day of time in which, because of me, 
A thousand do not meet who never met 



104 ^-^^ ^OSS DEVIL OF AMERICA, 

Before. I place their hands in mutual grasp, 
And call their names, and recommend their style. 
The Church of God is cold ; not by design 
Of God, but fault of men. Here people go, 
And starve for social bread, and turn away 
As from the chamber of the dead. They seek 
A place of smiles, of freely flowing words. 
Of kind remark, advice, and cheer. Do I 
Not furnish this, and more .-* 

Let him who would 
Die great in name, excel in deed of good 
For man, contrive a mighty plan, divine 
A mighty scheme, by which, in village or 
In town or city great or small, the young. 
And all who wish, may meet at will, at rooms 
And hall, where all amusements, sports, and fun 
Will give a bloom to health, and strength to mind, 
And wholesome cheer to every heart. Divide 
Or classify the whole, and make a place 
Where both the sexes, on a common plane. 
May share each other's inspiration. It 
Is lack of such a place, that makes demand 
For me. Until the world can give the joys 
That I impart, the world will drink for joy 
Which turns to pain. Not one in ten who drink, 



THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 105 

But feel its wrong ; yet do they drink the less ? 
Nay, but the more. Then give a reason why 
They drink at all ! Just here your wisdom fails, 
And here I will explain. Men drink, as rule, 
To find a cheer, to feel a joy, to think 
In hope, that liquor gives : that's why. They do 
Not stop to think or care about results. 
Now furnish, if you can, a fellowship 
Enriched by melody, whate'er you will, 
To take my place, and I'll resign and quit. 
But until then the world wants me, and could 
Not well dispense with what I give ; though what 
I give is worse than death. 

Young man or maid, whoever reads, take heed 
From what I say. Beware of me ! If young. 
Then all the more evade my path. Of those 
Who learn to drink in youth, by far the most 
Succeed in reaching woe, or early death. 
A few may drag their lives to ripe old age. 
But not the less to waste. No man is safe 
Who drinks. No man is wise who drinks. To 

drink 
Is to support a work of death ; to help 
The man who seeks to ruin you. With this 



io6 THE BOSS DEVIL OF AMERICA. 

I'll dry my pen, and write no more. You have 

My first attempt to write a book : it's long 

Enough, and bad enough, but not so bad 

As I. Thus saying, reader, I withdraw. 

And bid adieu, but leave my card. Keep this : 

You yet may wish to call on me, to quench 

Your wicked thirst. If so, and you have cash, — 

But not unless, — I'll entertain you well 

With wine, or what is better still, — but which 

I cannot call by name without offence. 

I don't advise a call, but rather warn 

You not to come : yet all the same, and more. 

You'll come, and taste, and sin, and die at last 

In shame. Please keep this card, in case you lose 

Your way. I write it plain : — 



The Boss Devil, — King Alcohol. 



POSTSCRIPT. 



Dear reader, have you heard the story of that 

Italian artist, who, meeting with a child of exquisite 

beauty, wished to preserve its features for fear he 

should never see such loveliness again? So he 

painted the charming face upon the canvas, and 

hung it upon the wall of his studio. In his som- 

berest hours, that sweet, gentle countenance was 

like an angel of light to him. Its presence filled 

his soul with the purest aspirations. "If ever I 

find," he said, "a perfect contrast to that beauteous 

face, I will paint that also, and hang them side by 

side, an ideal of Heaven and Hell." Years passed. 

At length in a distant land he saw, in a prison he 

visited, the most hideous object he ever gazed upon, 

— a fierce, haggard fiend, with glaring eyes, and 

cheeks deeply furrowed with lust and crime. The 

107 



io8 POSTSCRIPT, 

artist remembered his vow, and immediately painted 
a picture of this loathsome form, to hang beside the 
portrait of the lovely boy. The contrast was per- 
fect: his dream was realized; the two poles of 
the moral universe were before him. What was 
the smprise of this artist, on inquiry into the his- 
tory of this horrid wretch, to find he was once that 
lovely little boy ! Both of these pictures, the angel 
and the demon of the same soul, now hang side by 
side in a Tuscan gallery. 

Kind reader, you need not travel to a foreign 
gallery to see the transforming power of drink, and 
its attendant vices upon the body. That brazen- 
faced, wanton-looking wretch of womanhood was 
once a sweet, modest little girl, who blushed at the 
slightest indelicate allusion. That obese, bloated, 
brandy-burnt visage was once a joyous-hearted boy. 
I need not ask what strange alchemy has wrought 
this bestial transformation. They have been in the 
hard battles of appetite and lust, and carry the 
marks of their warfare. In the basement-cells of 
inebriety, and saloons of Ucentiousness, many youth- 
ful forms are sitting for their portraits. The demon 
artists of lust and intemperance are gradually mould- 
ing them into fiends. You may, young reader, 



POSTSCRIPT. 109 

Steal secretly into these hells of inebriety and har- 
lotry. Your kind parents and friends may not sus- 
pect your waywardness, but your " sin will find you 
out." Vice cannot long remain concealed : the 
soul has no place to hide it. Soon the foul flame, 
through some rent or fissure of the body, will find 
expression. 

Strong drink is the one great curse of America, 
of the world. Young lady, shun the wine-cup as 
you would a serpent ; and fall not into the hands 
of the young man that loves his glass, lest you are 
bruised by his fall. Shun liquor, and you will shun 
three-fourths of all the ills of human life. 



THE 



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